Camera having edge grip film feed



Jan. 2, 1951 P. J. BROWNSCOMBE.

'CAMERA HAVING EDGE GRIP FILM FEED Filed Dec. 15, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet lLib /22 lmnentor HIP EEOMVSCOMEE attorney Jan. 2, 1951 P. J. BROWNSCOMBE2,535,156

- CAMERA HAVING EDGE GRIP FILM FEED Filed Dec. 13, 1946 "r Sheets-Sheet2 llllllllllllllllllllllllllll: .52

llIIlllllllllllllllllllllll 194 l v F 1 1-1 Z'mnentor (Ittorneg Jan. 2,1951 P. J. BROWNSCOMBE 2,536,156

CAMERA HAVING EDGE GRIP FILM FEED Filed Dec. 15, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I/aa 202 l lnventor PHIL/P J. SHOWN $6M -33 62W 62W MW Gttomeg Jan. 2,1951 P. J. BROWNSCOMBE CAMERA HAVING EDGE GRIP FILM FEED '7 Sheets-Sheet4- Filed Dec. 13, 1946 Zhwentor FHA/P .7. BROWNSCOMEZ' Q ,1 RAM(Ittorneg 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 EHYLP J BEOWA/SCOMEE A (QM Am fiah (ItfornegJam. 2, 1951 P. J. BROWNSCOMBE CAMERA HAVING EDGE GRIP FILM FEED FiledDec. 15, 1946 ri I Bu I Jan. 2, 1951 P. J. BRQWNSCOMBE 2,536,156

CAMERA HAVING EDGE GRIP FILM FEED Filed Dec. 15, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 IT1 I .1; I wmiaz sizz attorneg Jan. 2, 1951 P. J. BROWNSCOMBE 2,536,156

CAMERA HAVING EDGE GRIP FILM FEED 3 n nen tot PHIL/P J. BROWSCOMBE'Patented Jan. 2, 1951 CAMERA HAVING EDGE GRIP FILM FEED Philip J.Brownscombe, Chatham, N. J., assignor to Griscombe Corporation, Newark,N. J a corporation Application December 13, 1946, Serial No. 716,033

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to film cameras, and more particularly to acamera for recording, in reduced size and on a long strip of film,photographic images of small objects, printed matter, drawings, and thelike.

Photographic records on a film of a large volume of businesscorrespondence and other papers of every description, are particularlyimportant for security purposes in case of loss of an original ororiginals, or for conserving filing space, or for inspecting orconsulting anyone of a large number of photographic records which may beheld far more readily accessible than the originals and which mayquickly and conveniently be viewed in a conventional reader at anenlarged scale at which they are readily discernible.

It is the primary aim and object of the present invention to provide acamera of this type which is of compact and rugged construction andautomatic in its operation, and which i particularly well suited for thepurpose in mind and ready for instant use at any time.

It is another important object of the present invention to design thecamera so that the photographic records made thereby are to allappearances non-distorted and true reproductions at a reduced scale ofthe originals, while permitting the camera to be placed closer to anoriginal to be photographed than was heretofore possible with othercameras.

It is another important object of the present invention to adapt thecamera for operation with non-perforated film and to utilize the entirewidth of the film as recording area, as well as to feed the film pastthe objective lens for successive photographic recordings withoutcontacting the sensitized face of the film in any way.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide thecamera with a straightline motion actuator for the various operatingdevices of the camera, such as a shutter, a film feed, a film take-upreel, and a cycle-speed regulator, and to have recourse to a simple andeconomically operated solenoid as th prime mover for this actuator.

It is another important object of the present invention to interpose inthe drive between the actuator and the operating solenoid core amotion-delaying device which, on energization of the solenoid, permitsinstant and quick travel of the solenoid core through its full inward orwork stroke, while delaying th transmission of its motion to theactuator, so that this device not only acts as a cycle-speed controllerto afford the various operating devices of thecamera ample time properlyto perform their respective functions, but also prevents a slowelectro-magnetic inward pull, and hence overheating, of the solenoidcore.

It i another object of the present invention to incorporate in thecamera a graduated film-supply indicator, and combine therewith acontroller for a warning system which draws attention to an exhaustedfilm supply in the camera by a more readily discernible medium than thegraduations of the film-supply indicator, however legible these may be.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be fully understood from the following description,reference being had to the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a reduced front elevation of a camera embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the camera;

Fig. 3 is a view into the camera after the front cover thereof has beenopened;

Fig. 4 shows, at approximately full scale, a D01- tion of the inside ofthe camera as shown in Fig. 3, after removal, however, of a shield forbetter illustration of certain parts normally hidden thereby.

Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, are enlarged fragmentary sections taken on thelines 5-5, 66, 'l-1 and 8-8, respectively, of Fig. 4;

Fi 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 99 of Figs. 4and 11;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section taken on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section taken on the line ll-H of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a section similar to Fig. 11, showing the parts in adifferent operating position, however;

Fig. 13 is an approximately full-scale rearelevational view of thecamera after the removal of a back cover therefrom;

Fig. 13A is a wiring diagram showing the circuit of a certain electricalinstrumentality in the camera.

Figs. 14 and 15 are longitudinal sections through the camera, takensubstantially on the lines [4-H and l5-l5, respectively, of Fig. 13;

Figs. 16, 17 and 18 are transverse sections through the camera, takensubstantially on the lines iii-l6, I'll1 and I8-l8, respectively, ofFig. 13;

19 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 15, showing certain parts ofthe camera in different operating positions, however; and

Fig. is an enlarged, fragmentary front-elevational view of one of theoperating devices shown in Fig. 13;

The present camera comprises a casing 32, which may be in the form of ametal casting, and which is provided with a longitudinal partition 34 todivide the casing into front and rear compartments and 38, respectively.The front compartment "36 is normally "closed by a cover which is hingedat A! to the casing 32, and normally releasably locked in closedposition by latches (not shown) which are operated from the outside ofthe camera byknobs'dZ. The rear compartment 38 is normally closed by acover 4 3 which is removably mounted on "the casing 32 by means ofscrews 46 (Fig. 17) which are threaded into tapped holes in lugs 48 inthe casing (Fig. 13). Housed in the casing 32 are the various operatingdevices of the camera. These may be termed as follows: W

Film mounting provisions fAf (Figs. 3 and 4)"; Agfilm 'exposing device-"B-- 3,4 and i4) ya fiim feeding device (Figs. 4:10 and 111) Afilm'take-up device D (Figsflsand 16) An'a'ctuator TE-"for the" device'sB g C and fl)? (Figs? l3and 14')' Operating mechanism f F for the"actuator 1'1" (Figs-i -13, 1 5-and l9); A filmsupplyindicator QfKFfigs.13 and 14); and Electrical control'means Hf" (Figs.-l3 and Film mountingprovisions ffrlf Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 15, there are provided inthe front compartment t tfof the' camera casing a film-supply iee'l 58and afilfn take-lip reel 52. Reel 5fi fwhichlioldsa suppi'y bf Iiionexposed film 54, may be of conventional construction, having a squarehole "for quick mounting on the square "ortion'bffa mounting shaft 58which is ismtamg jeurnaiies ma boss on the partition "350i thecaslngcs(Fig. 14). Thefilm take-upf-reel' 52 may be of the same construction asreel"'5!J, and beinounted on'a square portion "of'a drive shaft '62which is' journalled in abushiii'g 64 in the partition 34 id)! The filmportion extending between the two reels 5! and 52 "is" guided fornnear'move ment in a track assembly T past an -exp'o's'ure station X(Eggsf and if? )1" The track assembly T comprises the Itrack proper'filiwhich held 7 suspended from a mounting bracket 68 'in spaced relation"therewith "by 'scre'ws'lfi' "and interposed spacers '52. (Figs. "4 and"7); The mom ting bracket 68 isji'rithe present instance, the form of anangle which is mounted at M on the partition "as in messenger.Cooperating with the track is a gate '35 which is hin'gedly mounted onthe bracl'ietfifi seats to be swing'able td'and'from closing reason'with'the track. More particularly, the gate l6 has secured thereto at'18" longitudinally spaced L-shaped hangers Bil ('Figsl' l "and, 8)whichare 'pivotally mounted at 82 on depending posts 84' onthe bracket65." The'posts 84 may be secured to the bracket 68 by screws '36 (Fig;'7). Cooperating with the bevelled surface 83 of each hanger St is 'a'leaf s'pring'fiifii which is mounted at'iil? on the brackettfl and holdsthe gate 'IB in its closed position on the track 36 aswill be readilyunderstood from Fig. 8?. Also secured by ithe screws 18 to thegate ""56"adjacent the exit of the track 86 is th'e laterally'xtending endportion tii'of a handle I00 with which to open and close theiatejze'inig'rsii" F e u e t rashed i en with a groove I02 which isslightly narrower than the Width of the film 54 (Figs. 5 to 8), and withlongitudinal recesses I04 on opposite sides of the groove I32 which areto receive the opposite side margins of the film 54 and thus locate thelatter in the track. The longitudinal recesses IM are of such depth thatthe film may, when the gate 16 is closed, freely slide therein. In orderthat thefilni 54 may be bared'to the objective lens L of the camera atthe exposure station X, the

track as is there provided with an opening I65 length of a photographicrecord on the film.

r Likewise, the bracket 68 is at the exposure stationX provided with anopening Iiil which is in alignment with the opening I06 in the track 66.In order to hold the film 55 fiat in the track opening IEIB at theexposure station X the same rests there on a pressure pad I83 (Fig. 6)which is yieldingly urged against the bottoms of the oppositerecesses HMin' the t'rack by a spring plate H2, interposed between the pad Hi8 "andan offset end lifi'of the gate 76' (see also Fig. 4). The pressure padI58 has a "lost 'rnotion connection IIB with the offset gate and I I4 sothatthe pad will, on closure of the gate, reach its closed positiononthe track in advance of the gate, thereby facilitating the correctplacement of the film in thetrack and the closureof the gate on thecorrectly placed 'filn'i. "Near the opposite ends of the track 66, thefilm 54 is guided over fixed guide posts I20 and I22 (Figs.'4 and 14)which project from the partition 34 in the casing 32' and are sodisposed as to hold the film therebetween in line with the fixed track66. 'The'track' assembly T is normally covered'at the frontby ashieldI24 (Figs. 3, f1 and 16 to 18) whichis'secured by screws I25 (Fig. 3) tothe spacers I2 as well as to a post I28 which projects from a boss I3Ilon' the partition 34 in the casing 32. The shield I24; serves to protectthe track assembly T from the operators hands when loading or unloadingthe camera,

yet-does not interfere with the correct placement ofa'new film in thetrack 66 since the gate 16 of the track assembly swings,'when opened,below the shield I24 for admission'of the new film strip intothe'track66. To load or unload the camera, the front cover lfl thereof is opened,whereupon the gate I6 of the track assembly T is opened by depressingthe handle Iilt' into the dot-anddash line" position shown'in Fig. 8without interference from the shield I2 l'*which terminates short of thehandle Hill as shown in Fig. 3. The reels 50 and 52 'may then be removedfrom the camera and replaced with new reels. In mounting new reels inthe camera, the leading end of the film on the supply reel is drawn out,placed into the track and wound on the take-up reel. The gate 75 of thetrack assembly T, as well as the front cover 40 of the camera, arethereupon closed; The handle Hm on the track gate I6 is arranged so asto be in the path of closing movement of the camera cover 48 when in itsopen, dot-and-dash line position shown in Fig. 8, and to permit closureof the camera'cover'when inthe closed, full-lineposition shown in thesame figure. Thus, the handle IDII acts as a'safeguard against closingthe camera cover 46 when'the track gate 16' is inadvertently left open.

Film exposing device .B

Located at, and suitably secured to, the bottom I40 of an externalrecess I42 in the camera cas ing 32 is a conventional mounting I44 forthe camera lens L (Figs. 3, 4 and 17). The lens mounting I44 isimmediately above the exposure station X. A fan-like shutter blade I48is interposed between the lens mounting I44 and the track assembly T.The shutter blade I46 is mounted in any suitable manner, as by rivetsI52, on an arm I54 (Fig. 17) which is rotatably mounted on a verticalstub shaft I56, journalled with its opposite ends in bearing bracketsI58 on a mounting plate I66 which is secured by screws I62 to thepartition 34 in the camera casing 32. The shutter blade I48 is in thepresent instance, made of flexible sheet metal and is provided with aclearance opening I64 through which the stub shaft I56 extends. The armI54 and the shutter blade I48 straddle a collar I66 on the stub shaftI56. Acombined torsion and compression spring I68 surrounds the stubshaft I56 and is interposed between, and anchored with its ends to, theshutter blade I48 and one of the bearing brackets I58, respectively, soas normally to urge the shutter blade against the collar I66 on theshaft I56, and to turn the shutter blade into the closed, full-lineposition shown in Fig. 14.

Since the large reductions required of the present camera make thereduction of lens aberrations to a minimum imperative, the angle which aphotographic objective subtends at the lens must be as small as possiblefor it is a wellknown fact that the image quality of photographicobjectives deteriorates rapidly as the angle of view is increased, andthat the image quality is best at the center of the image. With this inview, and since there are practical limita tions to the spacing of thecamera from the object plane, the lens L is set deep into the confinesof the camer casing near the bottom thereof, i. e., into the recess I42,and the track assembly T is accordingly located close to the bottom ofthe camera casing. The partition 34 in the camera casing, which forms aside wall of the external recess I42 therein, serves, the same as thepreferably curved side walls I16 of the recess I42, as a light shield toprotect the camera lens from unwanted light. To complete thelight-shielding of the camera lens, the front cover 46 of the camera isprovided with a web I12 (Figs. 1, 2 and 17) which closes the recess I42at the front of the camera.

Film feeding device "0 As previously mentioned, the film used in thepresent camera is non-perforated at its side margins and, hence,unsuited for the well-known sprocketfeed, neither is the film fed bycooperating rolls which may well mar the sensitized face thereof.Instead, the film is fed by a reciprocating device I15 (Figs. 4 andwhich grips the film edgewise So that it may not do any harm to thesame. The instant film-feeding device reciprocates in the direction ofthe film track 66 and is operative during its work stroke in thedirection of the arrow I86 in Figs. 4 and 10, and inoperative during itsreturn stroke in the op posite direction. The film-feeding device Ireciprocates within a predetermined range longitudinally of the filmtrack and the latter as well as the film gate 15 are throughout theextent of this range reduced in width to the extent that the oppositeside edges of the film extend laterally therebeyond in the manner shownin Figs. 9 to 12 for clamping engagement by the film-feeding device. Thewidthwise reduced length of the track 66 extends between the shouldersI84 (Fig.

: next work stroke.

4), while the widthwise reduced length of the gate 16 is even longer.

The film-feeding device I15 comprises opposite clamping jaws I86 and I88of which the jaw I88 is formed by one leg of an L-shaped bracket I96(Figs. 4 and 9). The other leg I9I of bracket I96 overlies, and ispivotally connected at I92 with a rocker I94 which rests on the track 66(Fig. 9). Held suspended from, and in spaced relation with, the rockerI94 by means of screws I96 and a spacer I68 is a plate 266 which formswith the rocker I94 a fork 262 in which the other jaw I88 is pivotallymounted as at 264. Pivotally connected at 268 with the rocker 194 is alink 268 (Figs. 16 and 4) which is also pivot-ally connected at 2I6 withan operating element 2I2 (se also Fig. 16). The coordination of thepivots I92 and 264 is such that, on movement of the element 2 I2 in thedirection of the arrow I66 (in Fig. 10), the rocker I94 will first beturned counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 10 about its pivot mountingI92 on the bracket I96, thereby moving the pivoted jaw I86 on the rockerI94 inwardly toward the adjacent side edge of the film until the latterbecomes clamped between the jaws I86, 2 88. The film is thereupon fed inthe direction of the arrow I86 on continued movement of the feedingdevice in the same direction. In order to obtain an instantaneous andreliable feed of the film during a work stroke of the feeding deviceI15, spaced knives 2I6 are preferably inserted in one of the jaws, jawI86, for instance. The edges 2I8 of these knives 226 project slightlybeyond the clamping face 226 of the jaw I86 (Fig. 11) and cut into theadjacent side edge 222 of the clamped film, thereby establishing apositive driving connection between the feeding jaws I 8-, I88 and theopposite side edges of the film.

At the very beginning of the return stroke of the film-feeding deviceI15, the jaw 186 is immediately rocked out of clamping engagement withthe film 54, as will be readil understood. so that the clamping deviceI15 then rides idly over the film into the starting position for the Therelative position of the parts of the film-feeding device I15 during theidle return stroke of the latter is illustrated in Fig. 12 and it willbe noticed that the knives 2I6 are then retracted from the film. Therocker I 94 is normally urged by a spring 2.24 into the position shownin Fig. 11 in which its associated clamping jaw I 86 is in clampingengagement with the adjacent side edge of the film. More particularly,one end of the spring 224 is suitably anchored at 22I on the rocker I94,while the other end of the spring 224 extends through a hole 223 in theleg I88 of the bracket I96 (Fig. 11). As shown in Fig. 9, the superposedand pivotally connected rocker 94 and bracket !66 are located in the gapbetween the track 66 and the mount ing bracket 68 and are retainedtherein by the clamping jaw 568 of the bracket I66 on the one side, andby the other clamping jaw I66 on the other side, of the track 66, andthe parts of the film-feeding device are so arranged that they do notinterfere with the opening of the track gate 16 in any way.

Film take-up device D As previously stated, the film 54 is, during eachoperating cycle of the camera, fed by the device C (Fig. 4) toward thetake-up reel 52. In order that the exposed film may be wound on thetake-up reel 52, the latter is driven in synchronism with the filmfeeding device C. To this end. thereisprovidedon-the reel-carryin shaft62 a clutch 230 of the silent. type (Figs. 13 and 16), having a drivingmember 232 and a driven member 234. The driving clutch member 232 isjournalled On an enlarged boss 236 of the bushing 64, while the drivenclutch member 234 is freely rotatable on the drive shaft 62 and normallyurged into frictional driving engagement with a collar 238 on the latterby meansof a compression spring 246 which surrounds shaft c2 and isinterposed between the driven clutch member 234 and acollar 242 on theshaft 52 (see also Fig. 18). The driving clutch member 232 pivotallycarries at 244 eccentrically mounted pawls 226 which are in the form ofsmall disks that are normally urged by an arcuate spring 248 into drivinengagement with the periphery'25il of the driven clutch member 234. Inaccordance with the operating principle of clutches of the silent type,the pawls 246 of the present clutch will be in driving relation with thedriven clutch member 23d when the driving clutch member 232 is turnedclockwise as viewed in Fig. 13, and will ride idly over the periphery250 of the driven clutch member 234 when the driving clutch member 232is turned in the opposite direction. The driving clutch member 232 isoperated in a manner described hereinafter. However, it may be stated inadvance that the driving clutch member 232 is indexed during eachoperatin cycle of the camera through an angular distance which isslightl in excess of that required of an empty take-up reel 52 in orderto take up the length of film fed during each operation of thefilm-feeding device C. In this way, th clutch 23!! will overtravel thetake-up reel 52, the excess rotation of the clutch being absorbed byslippage between the driven clutch member 234 and the collar 238 on theshaft '52. In this connection, it should be noted that the frictiondrive constituted by the driven clutch member 234 and the shaft collar238 is insufficient to draw film from the supply reel 50, and that filmis drawn from the supply reel 50 by the positive action of thefilm-feeding device C.

As shown in Fig. 18, the reel-carrying shaft 6 2 extends through therear cover id of the camera to the outside thereof and removably carriesa knob 258 with which to turn the take-up reel 52 by hand in order towind the usual leader of a new film on the take-up reel and thuscondition the same for automatic wind-up of the film proper.

Actuator E for devices B, C, and .D?

Referring to Figs. 13, 14, and 16, there is provided a relatively longactuator bar 288 which is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement inspaced bearing brackets 262 on the mounting plate 363. The actuator bar2% assumes the home position shown in Fig. 14 when the camera is atrest. In the home position of the actuator bar 266, an ec centricallymounted stop 253 on the latter engages one of the bearing brackets 262(Fig. 13). Suitably mounted on the actuator bar Ziidas at 234 is a camplate 266 (Figs. l3, l4 and 17) which, on movement of the actuator bar250 on its forward stroke to the right as viewed in Fig. 14, engageswith its front shoulder 268 a rearwardly projecting tongue 218 on theclosed shutter blade M8 and turns the latter into the open, dot-and-dashline position shown in Fig. 14 to bare the film at the station X to thecamera lens L for a photographic exposure. The cam plate 265 is of suchlength that it will, during the orwa d tr ke of h tua or ar 2. earthe-tongue 21c of the shutterblade Hi8; permit: ting the latter toreturn to the closed, full-line position shown in Fig. lgl by the;action of the spring I68 (Fig. 17). Hence the exposure time, i. e. thetime duringwhich the shutter blade I48 is open, depends on the speed ofthe actuator bar 2 653 on its forward stroke and the length of the camplate 265'. During return movementof the actuator ba -r 2E2 into thehome position shown in Fig. 1e, the tongue of the closed shutter bladeI48 is cammed out of the way of the returning cam plate 255. by theincline 2'52. on the latter (see dot-and-da sh line position of shutterblade let in Fig. 20). As soon as the cam plate 266 clears, during itsreturn movement, the tongue Eli! ofthe shutter blade I48 the same isagain depressed by the'spring M8 into itsnorrnal position, i. e. intothe path of the cam plate 25 6: for the next forward stroke of theactuator bar 260. Inasmuch as only a front portion of the shutter blade848 is secured at 52 to the arm IEQ (Fig. 17), only the rear portion ofthe flexible shutter blade is cammed out of the way of the. cam platezfifiwhen the actuator bar 25% returns to its-home position.

Suitably mounted as by screws Elii, on the actu-. ato-r bar rears theoperating element 2 m for the film feeding device C (Figs. 13 and 16).In conformity with the previously described operation of the filmfeeding device (3, the actuator bar 2555 will on its return stroke causeoperation of the film-feeding device C, whereas the latter will be movedidly when the actuator bar its is moving through its forward stroke.

The actuator bar 2% carries also a member 213 which is pivotallyconnected to a link 218;, which is in turn pivotally connected at 28-3with an arm 2&2. suitably secured to the driving member 232 of theclutch on the reel-carrying shaft 62 (Figs. 13 and 17). In conformitywith the previously described operation of the clutch 23G, movement oftheactuator bar 263 through its return stroke will result in engagementof the clutch 235 and consequent film take-up motion of the reel 52,while movement of the actuator bar 260' through its forward stroke willmerely have the effect of causing the driving member 232 of the clutch233 to over-ride the driven member 234 thereof.

Operating mechanism F for the actuator E Recourse is had in the presentinstance to a simple and economically operating solenoid 230 as theprime mover for the actuator bar 266. The solenoid 2:18 is suitablymounted at 232 on an angle bracket 295 (Fig. 13) which is secured at 295to the mounting plate Eds. The driving connection between the core 29%of the solenoid 2% and the actuator bar ass is as follows. Secured at380 to the actuator bar 26% is an arm 382 (Fig. 13) the outwardly bentend 3 of which (Fig. 17) is received in a longitudinal slot 358 in oneend ofa plunger 3% (Fig. 15) and is preferably pinned to the latter asat Sit. (Fig. 13) so as to be dr-ivingly connected therewith. The otherend of the plunger 38$ has secured thereto, as at 352, a plate 3M, (Fig.15) which is notched on opposite sides as at Sit so as to straddle andbe guided on, the parallel legs 3i? of a U-shaped connecter 22s. Theplunger extends through the yoke 322 of the connecter 329, and thelatter is slidable on the plunger. The connecter 326 is drivinglyconnected with the solenoid core 298 by means of a link 324 (Figs. 13and 15). Also received and slidable on the plunger 308 is a plate 326(Figs. 13, 15 and 17). Surrounding the plunger 333 and interposedbetween the plates 3 I 4 and 323 is a compression spring 328 whichnormally forces the yoke 322 of the connecter 329 into engagement withsuperposed felt and steel washers 339 and 332, respectively, which aremounted on the plunger 338 and bear against the arm 332 (Fig. 15).Secured at 336 to the mounting plate I30 is an L-shaped bracket 333 (seealso Fig. 18) which is slotted at 340 to receive the connecter 320 andguide the same for movement longitudinally of the plunger 303 and of thesolenoid core 233, the latter being co-axial with the former. Thebracket 338 also acts as a retainer for another compression spring 342which surrounds the connecter 320 and is interposed between the bracket333 and the plate 326 (see also Fig. 17).

The spring 328 between the plunger 308 and the connecter 320 acts as aresilient link between them and permits, on energization of the solenoid290, instant electro-magnetic retraction of the solenoid core 298without corresponding quick motion of the actuator bar 260, as Will bereadily understood. Thus, a condition resembling that shown in Fig. 19may arise, where the solenoid 290 has just been energized and the core298 retracted so rapidly that the springs 328 and 342' were compressedbefore spring 328 could overcome the inertia of the plunger 308 and allthe parts connected therewith. Hence, only on subsequent expansion ofthe compressed spring 328 will the plunger 308, the actuating bar 260and i the parts connected therewith follow the retracted solenoid core298, which will remain retracted during continued energization of thesolenoid 290. Since in the present camera the inertia of the plunger308, actuating bar 260 and parts connected therewith is, however,insufiicient to cause, on electro-magnetic retraction of the solenoidcore 296, the delay in their follow-up motion to the extent suggested inFig. 19, and since delay in their follow-up motion to that extent isessential to the proper operation of the camera, recourse is had to amotion-delaying device in the form of an inertia mechanism 350 (Figs.13, 14 and 18). This mechanism comprises an inertia Wheel 332 ofconsiderable mass which is suitably frictionally mounted on a stub shaft354, journalled in a frame 356 which is formed by side plates 358, heldin spaced relation with each other and with the mounting plate 160, andmounted on the latter, by means of screws 360 and spacers 362. Mountedon the stub shaft 354 is a pinion 364 which is in permanent mesh with arelatively large gear 363, mounted on a stub shaft 368 which is alsojournalled in the frame 356 and carries a pinion 3'10 which is inconstant mesh with a rack bar 372, secured at 314 to the actuator bar260. It follows from Figs. 13 and 14 that the speed ratio between thepinions 370 and 364 in the drive between the rack bar 312 and theinertia wheel 352 is quite considerable, wherefore some time elapsesbefore the inertia of the wheel 352 is overcome and the latter isaccelerated to a point at which the actuator bar 260 moves, at the endof its stroke in either direction, at a permissible maximum speed, sothat the actuator bar 260 may properly perform its designated functionsof causing the operation of shutter blade I48, film-feeding device Cand. film 10 Film supply indicator "G As best shown in Fig. 14, there isjournalled in opposite bosses 380 on the partition 34 a shaft 382 whichcarries in the front compartment 3 6 of the camera casing a film-supplytest finger 384 (see also Fig. 3). The finger 384 projects into thefilm-supply reel 50 and is yieldingly urged against the roll of film 54thereon by means of a torsion spring 386 which surrounds the shaft 382and is anchored with one end on one of the bosses 380 and with the otherend on a rocker 388 which is clamped at 390 to the shaft 382 (Fig. 14).Also mounted on the shaft 382 is an indicator plate 392 which carriesgraduations 394 (Fig. 13) that are in cooperative alignment with awindow or opening 396 in the rear cover 44 (Fig. 13). In the exampleshown in Fig. 13, the graduation marked C appears through the window 396in the rear cover 44, in which posi-- tion of the indicator plate 392the test finger 384 assumes the dot-and-dash line position shown in Fig.13 in which the film-supply roll 50 in the camera is exhausted. Theother graduations 394 on the indicator plate 392 may be marked (notshown) to indicate the footage of film left in the film-supply reel 50when any one of these graduations appears behind the window 396.

The test finger 384, by yieldingly engaging the roll of film 54 on thesupply reel 50, also acts as a brake on the latter and acts to preventovertravel of film therefrom during and after each operation of thefilm-feeding device C. The test finger 384 has a branch finger 403(Figs. 3 and 14) which extends in front of the film-supply reel 50, andserves not only as a convenient handle for rocking the test finger 384out of an exhausted supply reel 50 for removal of the latter from thecamera, but also as a safeguard against attempts to remove an exhaustedsupply reel from the camera while the test finger 384 still projectsthereinto.

Electrical control means H Referring to Figs. 13 and 14, there ismounted in a suitable frame 402 in the rear compartment 38 of the cameracasing a normally closed snap switch 404, having an actuating blade 400with which cooperates a switch actuator 433, pivotally mounted at 410 inthe frame 402. The actuator 408 has a V-shaped end 412 adjacent theswitch blade 496, and the pivot mounting 4| 0 of the actuator 408 issituated to one side of the center line of the latter, so that theswitch 404 is in its normally closed position when the actuator 408assumes the full line position shown in Fig. 13, and the switch 404 isopened by the actuator 408 when the latter assumes the dot-anddash lineposition shown in the same figure. The actuator 408 is shifted into thetwo positions shown in Fig. 13 by adjustable screws 414 and 416,respectively, which are threadedly received in the spaced parallel legs4L8, respectively, of a U-shaped bracket 420, the yoke 422 of which issecured at 424 to the arm 302 and the member 218 in the manner bestshown in Fig. 14.

The switch 404 is in circuit with the winding 42% (Fig. 13A) of thesolenoid 293, and this circuit comprises any suitable power line 428, alead 430, a conventional hand or push-button operated switch 432, a lead434, the snap switch 434, a lead 433, the solenoid winding 423, and alead 438. In the home position of the camera (Fig. 13), the actuator bar269 is in its retracted or home position, and the switch actuator 408 11has, duringtheprecedingmeturn stroke of actuator ,barflfie intohomeposition, been rocked-by the screw ins into the rmrnneposrnm.shown inFig. 13, m whichthe 'switohi'gfifi'isihfits norinauy closed ,po'sitio'n.Herice,'the uescgibee ctr p wind ng $25 will be a oni'nanipulati'n'gswitch 432. (Fi'g. j13 r lilting 'in 'electro-j'magneticretraction oithe s enoi'd more 298 and movement or the ctuator bar 2st through its'forwardfstroke in th'efp'reviou slyfd'escribfed manner. Toward the endfor the forwa d stroke of the actuator bar 288, the sfc'rewVB M willengage and 'rock; the actuator 4B8 o the dot-and-dash line positionshown in in whic "the switch as; com be opened d 'the circuit throughthe solenoid winding 6"i'nterr upt1ed, resulting i'nreturn of the a'ctwor bar 1266 and parts'connectedtherewith into I eposition by the actionof the'c'ompre'ssion spring' S l-Z, as 'willfbe readily understood. To-"ward the end 'offthe return stroke of 'Qthe'aotu: atorbar 263fintohome'position, the screw iit will-engage and rock the actuator #08 intothe 'ffull line 'positio n, thereby restoring the switch to to 'itsnormallyclosed position forthe next operating cycleof thecamera.

Suitablvmounted on a bracket 4% 'on the mounting plate "l liifljwigs.13, andl4) is another snap 'switch Q42 which is normally-open a'ndin'circuit with en em'p'ty" light 444 (Fig-13), said circuit comprisin'gthe same power line Pi3, a -lead are, the switch M2, lead m; theferh'pty light-bulb MB, and a lead-"450. 'Adaptedto close the switch 442and "thereby close the circuit through the empty light-4M, is anadjustable set-screw d52 on the-rocker'388. Closure of the "switch 7 442takes place when the test finger 38 i assumes "the dot-and dash lineposition shown inFig. 13 in which-'the'film supply 'r'eel-fi'e is eiohausted. Thus, the empty light 4 3 g'oes'o'n whe'n-thefilm-sup'ply inthe camera is exhausted.

While I have shown anddescribedthe preferred embodiment of my invention,it will be understood that various changes may be made in the I presentinvention without; departing from the =under1yingid eaor principles ofthe invention within the scope of the-appended claims.

Having thusdescribed-my invention, what I "claim and desire to secure;by Letters Patent; is:

-1. ma camera; the combination with a len'jsi,

*nonnany closed'shutter therefor, and; "means for -guiding film {forrnov'ement past said lens, (of an actuator recipi'o'c'a ble jmm andnormally urged into a predetermined home pbsitiona device-operativelyconnected withsaidactuator for "feeding'theguidedfilm in one directionunmove- "merit of "said *actuator into home position, end means alsooperatively connectedflwith said, actuator for opening said'shuttertemporarily on movement of said actuator 'rrom'home position,

a s'olenoid havinga'movablecore, an elastic drivmg connection betweensaid actuator and core for moving said actuator from'home position "onenergization of said solenoid, an inertia device -tu'rn'able in oppositedirections, and a driving connection between said actuator and inertiade- :vice turning the latter in opposite directions on "movement of theformer in 'opposite directions, respectively, thereby to'retard movementof said *actuator in either direction 2 ,111 a camera, the combinationwith a lens, "a'no'rmally closed shutter therefor, and means "forguiding film for movement past said lens, of an actuator: reciprocablefrom and normally iligedinto'a predetermined homep'osition, a dei2 viceoperatively connected with said actuator for feeding-the guided'film inone direction on movement'of 'said'actuator into home position, meansalso operatively connected with said actuator for opening said shuttertemporarily on movement of said actuator from home position, a solenoidhaving a movable core, an elastic driving connectionbetween saidactuator and core for'moving said actuator from home position onenergization of said solenoid, an energizing circuit for'said solenoidincluding a manually operable first switch and another, normally closedsnap switch in series connection with said first switch, a'pivotedmember rockable into two positions in one of which it opens said otherswitch, and spaced projections on said actuator, one of said projectionsrocking said member into said one position at the end of the actuatormovement away from home position to the maximum extent permitted by theenergized solenoid, and

the other-projection rocking said =member'into the other position, atthe end of :the actuator movement into home vposition. V v

3. Thecombinationof a track forrguiding'film having straightuninterrupted side edges, said track having provisions for preventingbuckling of the guided film inthe direction of its, thickness,1and adevice for feeding the ,film in said track, Said device comprisingcompanion ,jaws having opposite clamping surfaces, respectively, andbeing movable in unison longitudinally-cf said trackin oppositedirections, ..saidcjaws being also relatively movable in the plane ofthe-guided fl1m tlft1lSV6I S1y Ofits length to and from each other tobring their respective clamping surfaces n and o Ql m me neaeement, rspectiv y. with 'the respective adjacent side edges. Of vthe guidedfilm, means for movingsaid jaws in unison longitudinally o f said trackin opposite directions, means jor relatively moving said ja t d fromeach other, and a knife blade projecting iro n the-clamping suriace ofone of said ,jaws andhavinga cutting edge extending transversely of theadjacent side edgeof th guided filmicr cutting into said adjacentfilmiedge on relative em t se d ws wa ds ch 1 1.. 4., The combination ofa trackfor guiding film having straight uninterrupted side edges, saidtrack having provisions for preventing buckling K of'ith'lguide'd filmin the direction of its thickand a device for feeding the film-in saidtrack," said device comprising companion jaws having opposite clampingsurfaces, respectively, and being movable unison longitudinally .-6fsaid ltraclg in opposite directions, said jaw-s1) me also relativelymovable in the plane of the guided nlm'trahsversly of its length to andfrom each other reprise their respective clamping surfaces intoandir'oin "clamping engagement,respectively, respectiv adjacent sideedges of the fme'ens'rer moving said jaws in unison longitudinally o1",said track in oppostiefd irections, flier relatively mo in said gtws' nd"from each other, and a knife,bia'dejproiectirig lromth'e clampingsurface of one of said jaws at an inclination to the adjacent sidejedgeor the guiqeufniinsaid knife blade hailing a clitting edge eiitleridingtransversely of the adjacent side ed e 'r'tiie guidedfilm for cuttingimosaid aajacent film edge on relative rrio'v'ement of said jaws towardeach other and ni'ovemenror the latter n ,un1son1on ituuina11 ofsaid'trackin oneoirecti o I ,i

'5. "The continent-n ar attack. f r, guidingnlm 75 having straightuninterrupted side edges, aiid'a device for feeding the film in saidtrack, said device comprising a member guided for movementlongitudinally of said track and having a clamping surface adapted to beengaged by the adjacent side edge of the guided film, a rocker pivotallymounted on said member for turning movement about an axis transverse tothe plane of the guided film, a jaw pivotally mounted on said rocker forturning movement about an axis parallel to, but spaced from, the pivotaxis of the latter and having a clamping surface moving into and fromclamping engagement with the adjacent side edge of the guided film onturning said rocker in opposite directions, respectively, and meansoperatively connected with said rocker remote from its pivot axis formoving said member in either direction longitudinally of said track.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5, further comprising meansnormally yieldingly urging said jaw into clamping engagement with theadjacent film edge.

7. The combination set forth in claim 5, further comprising a knifeblade projecting from the clamping surface of said jaw and having acutting edge extending transversely of the adjacent film edge forcutting into the latter on movement of said last mentioned clampingsurface toward the adjacent film edge.

8. The combination set forth in claim 5, further comprising a knifeblade slightly projecting 3 from the clamping surface of said jaw andhaving a cutting edge extending transversely of the adjacent film edge,said knife blad being so inclined to the clamping surface of said jawthat its cutting edge enters th adjacent film edge obliquely on movementof said last mentioned clamping surface toward the adjacent film edge.

9. In a camera, the combination of a track for guiding film havingstraight uninterrupted side edges, a device for feeding the film in saidtrack, said device comprising a member guided for movementlongitudinally of said track and having a clamping surface adapted to beengaged by the adjacent side edge of the guided film, a rocker pivotallymounted on said member for turning movement about an axis transverse tothe plane of the guided film, a jaw pivotally mounted on said rocker forturning movement about an axis parallel to, but spaced from, the pivotaxis of the latter and having a clamping surface movin into and fromclamping engagement with the adja- 14 cent side edge of the guided filmon turning said rocker in opposite directions, respectively, an actuatorreciprocable from and normally urged into a predetermined home position,a driving connection between said actuator and said rocker remote fromthe pivot axis of the latter for moving said member in oppositedirections longitudinally of said track on movement of said actuator toand from home position, respectively, a solenoid havin a movable core,an elastic driving connection between said core and actuator for movingthe latter from home position on energization of said solenoid, aninertia device turnable in opposite directions, and a driving connectionbetween said actuator and inertia device turning the latter in oppositedirections on movement of the former in opposite directions,respectively, thereby to retard movement of said actuator in eitherdirection.

PHILIP J. BROWNSCOMBE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 562,222 Granger June 16, 1896929, 61 Oehring July 27, 1909 975,278 Pond Nov. 8, 1910 1,090,413 RhodesMar. 17, 1914 1,174,266 Moses, Jr Mar. 7, 1916 1,357,391 Freytag Nov. 2,920 1,830,168 Josepho Nov. 3, 1931 2,111,425 Goldhammer Mar. 15, 19382,168,987 Hopkins Aug. 8, 1939 2,232,290 Janes Feb. 18, 1941 2,233,389Kende et a1. Feb. 25, 1941 2,246,034 Elison June 17, 1941 2,278,196Fluharty Mar. 31, 1942 2,284,487 Hineline May 26, 1942 2,338,657 MihalyiJan. 4, 1944 2,388,423 Langdon Nov. 6, 1945 2,395,828 Kallusch Mar. 5,1946 2,451,467 Bickel Oct. 19, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date388,454 Germany Jan. 14, 1924 354,170 Great Britain July 27, 1931

